Stockport

Health improved substantially in Stockport in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and marriage.

The population decreased

Between the last two censuses, the population of Stockport fell by 0.4%, from just under 285,000 to 283,000.

The loss of about 1,000 people means this area's population decreased by 0.4% between that last two censuses, while the population of England increased by 7.9%

In 2011, Stockport was home to, on average, 16 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Stockport

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Stockport increased by two years, from 39 to 41 years.

This affluent area had a higher average age than the North West and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 4,500 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 10,000.

About 11% of people in Stockport are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Stockport by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

Stockport saw the North West's second-largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11%) households in Stockport had a single parent, compared with 9.4% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising a married couple decreased from 38% to 34%.

Across the region, only Hyndburn saw a greater rise in the proportion of single-parent households (from 10% to 13%).

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Stockport residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.1% to 5.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of Stockport residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Stockport decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Stockport, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Stockport

The percentage of Stockport residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 25 (3.8%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.0% in 2001. The percentage of Stockport residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.6% to 7.5%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (which remained close to 89%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Stockport

The number of people in Stockport that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 40,000 in 2001 to just over 71,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 25% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the North West (from 10% to 20%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Stockport that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 210,000 in 2001 to just under 180,000 in 2011 (from 75% to 63%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just over 20,000 to just under 19,000 (from 7.1% to 6.5%).

Just over 9,400 people (1.8%) said they were Muslim, up from about 5,000 in 2001 (3.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Stockport increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Stockport by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

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